NEW-YORK— AS  IT  IS ; 


BEING  THE  COUNTERPART 


OF  THE 


METROPOLIS  OF  AMERICA 


"Alme  Sol, eurru  nitido  diem  qui 
Fromis.  et  celas  ;  aliusque.  et  idem 
Nasceris  ;  possis  nihil  urbe  Roma 
Viserc  maius !" 

Hor. 


NEW-YORK : 
PRINTED  BY  JOHN  P.  PRALL, 

NO.  9  SPRUCE  STREET, 
1849. 


Notice  is  hereby  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  that  the 
recently  constructed 

CARVED  MODEL 

OF  J 

\mW°Y©mK  &  !H®©!KILTOg 

EXECUTED  BY 

E.  PORTER  BELDEN, 

WITH  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  ASSISTANTS, 

Is  intended  to  be  exhibited  in  the  various  Cities  of  the  Union. 

THIS  MODEL  IS  A  PERFECT  PIECE  OF  11  I  t  II A  M s  U, 

Representing  every  building  and  other  object  in  the  city.    It  was  construct- 
ed at  a  cost  exceeding 

$20,000  ! 

OVER  THE  WHOLE  MODEL  IS  AN 

ESQisrasiB  (DMf®inr 

Of  Carved  and  Ornamental  Work  in  Gothic  ,ir- 

chitcctnrc, 
Representing  in  the  finest  Oil  Painting 
The  leading-  Business  Establishments  of  the  City. 

A  Work  entitled, 

NEW-YORK— PAST,  PRESENT,  and  FUTURE, 

BY  E.  PORTER  BELDEN,  M.A.j 

PROJECTOR  OF  THE  MODEL  OF  NEW-YORK, 

Has  just  been  issued  from  the  Press,  for  which  the  undersigned  is  the 
accredited  agent.  It  contains,  as  its  title  imports,  a  History  of  New- 
York,  with  any  interesting  incidents  that  have  occurred  during  it  rise  and 
progress,  a  description  of  its  present  condition,  business,  commerce,  fu- 
ture prospects,  &c. 

For  sale  by  the  undersigned  and  the  principal  booksellers  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Canadas. 


R.  A.  BA.CHIAS 

SPLENDID  LITHOGRAPHIC 

Bird's-Eye  View  of  the  Empire  City, 

Also  for  sale  by 

GEORGE  PRIOR, 
Superintendent  of  the  Model  of  New-  York. 


Ex  HGtbris 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Ever'tbing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


ACTION  OF  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL 


RELATIVE  TO  THE  MODEL  OF  NEW-YORK. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  that  this  work 
is  exhibited  under  the  sanction  of  the  city  authorities. 

"  Whereas,  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council  of  this  city  have  visited 
and  inspected  the  Model  of  New- York,  executed  by  E.  Porter  Belden, 
Esq.  which  visit  and  inspection  have  proved  in  the  highest  degree  satis- 
factory, therefore 

"  ResUyed,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Common  Council,  this  work  of  art 
is  a  very  correct,  faithful,  and  beautiful  delineation  of  our  city,  and  forms 
a  noble  monument  to  the  taste  and  genius  of  its  projector;  and  that  the 
Common  Council  commend  the  same  to  the  favorable  notice  of  the  au- 
thorities of  other  countries,  as  conveying  a  just  and  correct  idea  of  our 
city,  its  situation,  buildings,  public  grounds,  &c.  &c. 

"  Adopted  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  October  26, 1846. 

"Adopted  by  the  Board  of  Assistants,  Nov.  9,  1S46. 

"Approved  by  the  Mayor,  Nov.  11,  1846. 

"D.  C.  VALENTINE, 
"  Clerk  of  Com.  Coun.  of  N.  Y." 


CIRCULAR  OF  THE  EDITORS  OF  NEW- YORK, 

ADDRESSED  TO  THE  EDITORS  OF 

REVIEWS,  MAGAZINES    AND     NEWSPAPERS     THROUGHOUT  THE 

UNION. 

New- York,  5th  May,  1847: 
"The  Editors  and  Proprietors  of  the  following  journals,  published  in 
the  city  of  New- York,  take  this  method  of  introducing  the  Model  of  this 
city,  by  E.  Porter  Belden,  Esq.,  to  the  notice  of  the  editors  of  Reviews, 
Magazines,  and  Newspapers,  throughout  the  Union.  This  work,  con 
structed  with  great  care  and  expense,  is,  what  it  professes  to  be,  a  most 
accurate  miniature  in  wood  of  our  metropolis.  As  a  work  of  art  and 
mechanical  skill,  it  is  of  the  highest  order.  It  cannot  be  placed  upon 
the  level  of  a  map  or  painting;  for  it  goes  much  farther,  and,  without 
aiming  at  a  ficticious  effect,  presents  nature  itself  upon  a  reduced  scale, 
so  that  we  seem  to  be  gazing  upon  the  actual  city  and  surrounding  waters. 
6*  3 


The  business  and  commerce  of  New- York  can  be  better  seen  by  a  casual 
inspection  of  this  Model,  than  by  days  spent  in  actually  visiting  the 
business  localities  of  the  city.  This  great  work  has  met  with  the  most 
flattering  reception  in  our  city,  and  we  rejoice  that  we  can  assure  our 
friends  throughout  the  country,  that  by  extending  to  it  the  favorable  in- 
fluence of  their  respective  journals,  they  will  lend  their  aid  to  a  work  of 
the  greatest  genius,  thereby  advancing  the  cause  of  science  and  art." 

Freeman  Hunt,  Editor  and  Proprietor  of  the  Merchants'  Magazine. 

Thomas  P.  Kettell,  Editor  and  Prop,  of  the  Democratic  Review. 

Geo.  H.  Colton,  Ed.  and  Prop,  of  the  American  Review. 

Lewis  Gaylord  Clark,  Editor  of  the  Knickerbocker  Magazine. 

John  Allen,  Proprietor  of  Knickerbocker  Magazine. 

Wm.  H.  Starr,  Ed.  and  Prop,  of  the  Eureka,  or  Journal  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Inventors,  and  the  Farmer  and  Mechanic. 

Hale  &  Hallock,  Eds.  and  Prop,  of  the  Journal  of  Commerce. 

Jas.  Watson  Webb,  Ed.  and  Prop,  of  the  Courier  and  Enquirer. 

Robert  A.  West,  Ed.  Commercial  Advertiser,  for  Francis  Hall,  now 
in  Europe. 

Townsend  &  Brooks,  Eds.  and  Prop,  of  the  New-York  Express. 
William  C.  Bryant  &  Co.  Eds.  and  Prop,  of  the  Evening  Post. 
Frederic  Hudson,  Ed.  N.  Y.  Herald,  for  Jas.  Gordon  Bennett  now  in 
Europe. 

M.  S.  &  A.  E.  Beach,  Eds.  and  Prop,  of  the  New- York  Sun. 
Dinsmore  &  Morrill,  Eds  and  Prop,  of  the  True  Sun. 
H.  Fuller,  Ed.  and  Prop,  of  the  Evening  Mirror 


The  following  Commendation  has  received  the  signatures  of 
THOUSANDS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  CITIZENS, 
including  the  officers  of  the  city  government,  in  its  various  departments, 
artists,  architects,  the  clergy  of  the  city,  and  professional  and  business  men 
generally. 

"The  undersigned,  having  examined  the  Model  of  New- York,  by  E. 
Porter  Belden,  are  highly  pleased  with  the  result,  and  have  no  hesitation  in 
pronouncing  it  to  be,  so  far  as  their  knowledge  extends,  a  most  accurate 
and  beautiful  representation,  as  well  as  a  work  that  deserves  the  attention 
of  the  whole  civilized  world." 

This  commendation,  with  its  thousands  of  signatures,  is  open  for  in- 
spection at  the  exhibition  room. 


CIRCULAR  OF  THE  CLERGY  OF  NEW-YORK, 
addressed  to  the 
CLERGY  THROUGHOUT  THE  UNION. 

**  We,  members  of  the  clerical  profession,  satisfied  of  the  accuracy  and 
the  high  character  of  the  Model  of  this  city,  constructed  by  Mr.  E.  Porter 

4 


Belden  and  his  assistants,  do  hereby  recommend  it  to  the  clergy  generally 
as  a  work  of  genius,  and  as  belonging  to  that  class  of  exhibitions  which, 
deserve  the  attention  of  the  religious  community,  that  they  may  supersede 
the  frivolous  and  immoral  amusements  prevalent  throughout  the  country." 

(Signed  by  the  Clergy  of  various  denominations.) 


CIRCULAR  OF  THE  CLERGY  AND  TEACHERS  OF  NEW- YORK, 

addressed  to 

THOSE  INTERESTED  IN  THE  EDUCATION  OF  YOUTH 
THROUGHOUT  THE  COUNTRY. 

"  The  undersigned,  clergy  and  teachers  of  the  city  of  New- York, 
would  hereby  commend  to  the  notice  of  those  interested  in  the  education 
of  vouth,  the  Model  of  New- York,  as  a  work  calculated  to  exalt  and  re- 
fine the  mind,  and  to  communicate  at  the  same  time,  interesting  and 
valuable  information.  The  minds  of  the  rising  generation,  eager  for 
amusement,  can,  with  great  profit,  be  directed  to  those  works  that  will  in- 
crease their  taste  for  science  and  art,  and  cause  them  to  reflect  upon  what 
has  been  accomplished  by  human  genius:  and  surely  no  work  can  better 
produce  this  result,  than  a  perfect  miniature  of  the  Metropolis  of  our  Re- 
public, portraying,  with  the  accuracy  of  science,  and  the  beauty  of  art, 
the  labor  of  two  centuries — the  business,  the  commerce,  and  the  residence 
of  half  a  million  of  souls." 

(Signed  by  Teachers  and  the  Clergymen  of  the  various  denominations.) 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  Communication  of  Prof.  O.  W. 
Morris,  of  the  New-York  Deap  &  Dumb  Institution,  published  in  the 
leading  daily  papers  of  New- York,  in  September,  1846. 

Inst,  for  Deaf  and  Dumb,  Sept.  15,  1846. 

"  Do  the  people  of  New-York  know  of  the  unparalleled  Model  that  is 
in  their  midst,  in  which  every  public  building,  every  house,  and  I  might 
say,  every  shanty  is  faithfully  represented  ?       *  * 

"  It  fell  to  my  lot,  a  few  days  since,  to  accompany  there  some  of  the 
pupils  of  the  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  in  this  city,  and  if  any 
thing  more  were  wanting  to  convince  me  of  the  truthfulness  of  the  Model, 
than  my  own  observation,  I  should  have  been  satisfied  by  seeing  these 
children  of  nature,  with  their  eloquent  manner  and  speaking  looks,  point 
out  place  after  place  and  building  after  building,  and  indicate  their  plea- 
sure by  calling  the  attention  of  each  other  to  them. 

"  The  architecture  of  the  public  buildings  is  faithfully  represented,  even 
to  the  stained  glass  in  the  windows  of  the  churches.  The  lamp  posts  had 
nearly  escaped  my  observation,  when  I  saw  them  pointed  out  by  a  very 
intelligent  boy,  to  a  young  lady  with  an  expression  of  satisfaction,  that 
even  in  the  minutia,  all  was  correct."       *       *  * 

(Signed)  0  W.  MORRIS. 

5 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MODEL. 


The  construction  of  the 

MODEL  OF  NEW- YORK 

Was  a  most  unpremeditated  enterprise.  Its  origin  is  to  be  traced  to  a 
few  experiments  in  architectural  representation,  entirely  unconnected  with 
any  purpose  of  public  exhibition,  which  led  to  large  and  unexpected  ex- 
penditures, and  in  the  progress  of  which  certain  facilities  in  producing 
copies  of  the  objects  desired  were  developed,  and  many  inventions  foi 
expediting  the  different  operations  of  the  work  devised.  The  time  and 
expense  devoted  to  the  object  were  disproportioned  to  the  value  of  the 
end  attained.  It  became  apparent  that  neither  reimbursement,  nor  value 
to  society,  could  attend  the  employment  of  the  experience  acquired,  unles? 
directed  to  a  more  important  object.  The  construction  in  model  of  the 
great  emporium  of  America,  presented  peculiar  claims  to  this  notice. 
The  undertaking  was  determined  on.  The  first  blow  of  the  work  was 
struck  in  July,  1S45.  In  the  same  month  of  the  succeeding  year,  a 
duplicate  of  New- York-  was  thrown  open  to  the  inspection  of  its  citizens.* 

The  Model  of  New- York  thus  completed,  was  far  different  from  the 
Model  of  New-York  at  first  devised.  A  representation  of  the  general 
appearance  of  the  prominent  structures  was  aimed  at :  a  perfect  fac  timile 
of  every  building  in  the  city  was  produced.  A  few  weeks  it  was  thought 
would  afford  sufficient  time  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  :  more 
than  a  year  was  consumed.  Twenty  or  thirty  men  were  deemed  a  suffi- 
cient force  to  employ:  the  number  commenced  with  about  twenty,  and 
gradually  increased  to  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty.  A  few  thousand 
dollars,  it  was  supposed,  would  complete  the  work :  more  than  $20,000 
were  expended. 

*  The  work  was  not  entirely  completed  for  some  months  subsequent  to  this  date. 

6 


After  the  entire  completion  of  the  work,  a  meeting  of  the  artists  and 
others  who  had  been  employed  in  its  prosecution  was  held  in  the  Minerva 
Rooms,  Broadway.  Reporters  of  a  large  part  of  the  daily  press  were  pre- 
sent on  this  occasion,  who  prepared  and  published  in  the  several  papers 
with  which  they  were  connected,  minute  accounts  of  the  proceedings  ol 
this  meeting,  which  were  subsequently  copied  by  all  the  journals  of 
note  in  the  vicinity.  As  these  proceedings  refer  to  many  details  connected 
with  the  progress  and  subdivision  of  the  work,  and  give  a  list  of  the  in- 
dividuals employed  in  the  various  departments,  we  will  insert  the  report 
as  it  appeared  in  the  principa  journals,  and  thus  close  this  brief  sketch  of 
the  history  of  the  Model  of  New-York. 

From  the 

Morning  Courier  and  New-York  Enquirer,  Nov.  9, 1846. 
New- York  Journal  of  Commerce,  Nov.  11,  1846 
and  the  other  leading  journals  of  New  New- York  of  contiguous  dates. 


"  GREAT  MEETING  OF  ARTISTS. 
"  At  a  meeting  of  the  artists  and  artizans  employed  upon  the  Model  of; 
New- York,  held  on  Wednesday  evening  last,  John  Evers,  Esq.,  was  ap- 
pointed Chairman,  and  Chas.  McDonald,  Secretary.  The  following  list 
of  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  those  employed  in  the  different  depart- 
ments of  the  work,  was  read  by  Mr.  H.  C.  Hall,  who  has  acted  in  tho 
capacity  of  Treasurer  and  Book-keeper  during  the  undertaking. 

*  Architectural  Work  and  General  Superintendence — By  Mr.  W.  P.  Withey. 
"Platform  of  the  Model — By  Messrs.  A.  E.  Moulthrop,  E.  Bishop,  and  Assistants. 
"Surveying  and  Map  Department — By  Messrs.  J.  Murphy,  R.  Morrison,  and  As 
istanls. 

'•Modelling  of  Buildings — By  Messrs.  P.  A.  Edinger,  R.  Moloy.  E.  Brown,  C.  De- 
marest,  T.  Barnes,  R.  Searche,  M.  L.  Mann,  J.  B.  Price  W  Price,  C.  Gulleu,  W.  Harris, 
A  Burnham.  W.  E.  Shelden,  G.  Carroll,  0.  G.  Taylor,  L.  D.  Bergo.  J.  I,  Hunt,  G. 
Douglass,  H.  Merchint.  J.  White,  C.  Peterson,  W.  Griffith,  J.  Wilson,  M.  Swift,  W.  H. 
Fairchild,  and  W.  Thompson. 

"Tubes— By  Messrs.  C.  H.  Julson,  J.  B.  Hinton,  A.  P.  Butler,  and  C.  H.  Lewis. 

"  Elevations,  Depressions,  and  Wharves—  By  Mr.  H.  Stow. 

"  Fences — By  Messrs.  H.  Murphy  and  T,  A.  Young. 

''Steamboats — By  Messrs.  E.  B  Cunningham  and  S.  B.  Cunningham. 

"Shipping — By  Messrs.  C.  Davis,  A.  W.  Hogg,  T.  Hogg,  Jr..  and  S.  Hogg. 

"  Painting  "F  the  Public  Buildings,  Steamboats.  Shipping,  &c. — By  Messrs.  E. 
W.  Jankson,  J.  Y.  Brush,  H.  Rover,  J.  Wells,  W.  Davison,  G.  M.  Gard  .er,  J.  Ropes, 
J.  P.  Taylor,  and  T.  F.  Gray. 

'•Painting  of  the  Private  Buildings — By  Messrs.  J.  W.  Rover,  A.  Eiffe,  A  Miller, 
M.  Hurlhut.  A.  M.  S  nuntnn,  J.  Langsteiu,  E.  McAuley,  M.  A.  McCauly,  E.  Bond,  E. 
Garev,  J.  King,  S.  Ward,  Z.  Martin.  L.  Martin,  M.  L.  Moffat,  S.  J.  Good,  H.  Good,  P. 
Harris,  L.  Guthrie,  J.  Guthrie.  M.  Guthrie,  D.  Moore.  J.  Wilkins,  S.  Weston,  L.  Brown- 
lee,  D.  Stokes,  and  P.  D.  Coolican. 

"Scenic  Effects— By  Messrs  C.  McDonald,  E.  Richmond,  B.  Clark. T.  Shepherd.  W- 
F.  Wbittinglon,  C.  G.  Thompson,  L.  Nephew,  J.  Roche,  M.  Conroy,  T.  Griffiin,  F. 
Booth,  Jr..  M.  Lyons,  and  T.  Dreasy. 

"Inspection  of  the  Modelling — By  J.  H.  Plumb,  F.  B.  Booth,  and  J.  J.  Palmer. 

"Framk  Work  of  the  Canopy — By  Messrs.  P.  Tiers,  J.  Crisp.  H.  L.  Farnhain,  J.  S. 
Clutterbuck,  J.  D.  Cov.,  E.  J.  P.iill.ps,  and  J.  Case. 

"The  Paintings  of  the  Canopy — By  Me.,srs.  J.  Evers.  E.  P.  Barnes,  E.  C.  Coates, 
and  J.  H.  Kimberlv. 

■'Canvas  f  ir  the  Paintings — By  Messrs.  T.  Kelly,  S.  N.  Dodge,  and  E.  Dechaux. 

"  Carvfd  Ornamental  Work— Bv  Messrs.  J.  H.  B.  Jackson,  J.  D.  Darlington.  T.  Mil- 
lard, Jr.,  R.  Gunning,  W.  Guuniug,  J.  Dully,  W.  Murphy,  S.  T.  Cary,  H.  Tompkins,  R. 
Joseph,  and  S.  Clark. 

7 


"  GitDlNG — By  Messrs.  J.  IVTcPeake,  II.  Cunningham,  and  H.  Scardenfteld. 
"Ornamental  Painting — By  Messrs.  T.  T.  Hogg,  J.  C.  Wbitmore,  S.  A.  Dodge,  J. 
Peck,  and  J.  C.  Hogle. 

"  Iron  Frame  Work— By  Messrs.  Cornell  &  Jackson. 

''Drapery — By  Messrs.  Solomon  &  Hart. 

"Lights  and  Glasses. — By  Messrs.  Benjamin  Pike  &  Son. 

"Book-Keeper  and  Treasurer — H.  C.  Halt, 

•'  Tii  l.  Whole— By  E.  Porter  Belden. 

"After  the  acceptance  of  this  report,  the  following  resolutions  were 
unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  tendered  to  E.  Porter 
Belden,  Esq.,  the  constructor  of  the  Model  of  New- York,  for  the  liberality 
of  feeling,  and  the  gentlemanly  deportment  exhibited  towards  us,  in  the 
progress  of  this  work. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  this  undertaking,  which  would  have  baffled  the 
efforts  of  almost  any  other  man,  he  has  evinced  the  taste  of  the  artist,  the 
skill  of  the  mathematician,  and  the  energy,  the  patience,  and  the  perse- 
verance of  the  man  of  genius,  and  that  he  has  achieved  a  triumph  which 
has  justly  immortalized  his  name. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  will  use  our  humble  endeavors  to  promote  the  success 
of  this  work,  by  testifying  to  its  accuracy,  its  beauty,  and  its  finish  of 
execution. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  signed  by  its  officers, 
and  submitted  to  the  leading  journals  of  the  city  for  publication. 

"  The  passage  of  these  resolutions  was  accompanied  by  complimentary 
remarks  from  several  of  the  artists  present,  at  the  close  of  which,  Mr. 
Belden  arose  and  addressed  the  meeting  with  some  appropriate  remarks, 
returning  his  thanks  to  the  artists  engaged  upon  the  work  for  this  expres- 
sion of  their  regard,  and  assuring  them  of  the  satisfaction  he  felt  in  having 
congregated  together  a  body  of  men  so  well  calculated  to  carry  out  ideas, 
which  he  might  conceive,  but  which  he  could  never  have  executed  with- 
out their  assistance. 

"  The  following  resolution  was  then  adopted  : 

"  Resolved,  That  if  this  Model  should  be  destroyed  by  fire,  or  other  acci- 
dent, while  we  are  living,  we  will  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  at  a  mo- 
ment's warning  to  rally  to  the  standard  of  Mr.  Belden  for  its  re-constiuc- 
tion. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  the  following  resolution  was  passed  by  those 
engaged  exclusively  upon  the  Model : 

"  Resolved,  That  our  thanks  be  presented  to  Messrs.  Evers,  Barnes  and 
Coates,  for  the  splendid  embellishments  with  which  they  have  graced  our 
work  in  the  views  of  the  mercantile  and  manufacturing  establishments, 
represented  upon  the  Canopy  of  the  Model. 

«  JOHN  EVERS,  Chairman. 

"  Chas.  McDonalp,  Secretary." 
8 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MODEL. 


The  Model  of  New- York  is  a  piece  of  mechanism  entirely  different  from 
a  map  or  painting.    On  an  immense  platform 

ETery  Object  of  the  City*  is  Represented 

In  Carved  Wood, 

with  its  relative  size,  proportions  and  color,  so  that  the  Model 

DIFFERS    FROM    THE    ACTUAL    CITT    ONLY    IN    POINT    OF  SIZE. 

So  extensive  and  minute  is  the  representation  that 

150  ARTISTS  AND  ARTISANS 
were  employed  in  its  construction,  and  its  cost  exceeded 

$20,000. 

The  Harbor  and  SuRRouNriNG  Waters  are  represented  with  their  ac- 
customed Shipping,  Packets  leaving  and  entering  the  port,  Steamers  ply- 
ing through  the  rivers,  Tow-boats  conducting  the  Barges  and  Canal-boats 
up  and  down  the  North  River,  and  indeed  the  whole  Business  and  Com- 
merce of  New- York  can  be  seen  to  better  advantage  by  au  hour's  visit  to 
this  Model,  than  by  a  week's  inspection  of  the  actual  City  and  Harbor. 
Over  the  whole  Model  is  an 

IMMENSE  CANOPY 
Of  Carved  and  Ornamented  Work,  in  Gothic  Architecture,  nearly 
fifteen  feet  high.  This  Canopy  is  supported  by  twelve  elaborately  carved 
columns,  the  bases  of  which  rest  at  the  sides  and  corners  of  the  Model, 
and  is  mounted  with  pinnacles  forming  compartments  which  contain  a 
collection  of 

NEARLY  ONE  HUNDRED  OIL  PAINTINGS, 
representing  the  leading  business  establishments  and  places  of  NOTB 

in  the  crrr. 

These  paintings  were  executed  by  the  first  artists,  and,  independent  of 
the  Model,  form  a  sufficient  attraction  for  the  admirers  of  the  fine  arts. 
The  Carved  Work  of  the  Canopy  is  most  exquisitely  executed  and  richly 
decorated  with 

Gold  and  Brill-ant  CoLORS.f 

But  we  will  turn  our  attention  to  the  prominent  objects  of  the  work. 

In  the  following  description  the  visitor  is  supposed  to  commence  the 
examination  of  the  Model  at  the  South  West  corner,  proceeding  to  the 
north,  and  completing  the  circuit  of  the  Model. 

WEST  SIDE. 

1.  The  first  object  that  meets  our  view,  as  we  thus  gaze  upon  the 
liliputian  city  stretched  before  us,  is  the  Battery,  in  all  its  loveliness  of 
verdure,  reminding  us  of  the  time  when  "  the  old  burghers  would  repair  of 

•  For  the  minute  details  of  the  representation  see  post,  p.  14. 

f  A  description  of  the  architectural  plan  of  this  Canopy  had  been  written  with  a 
view  to  publication.  At  the  desire  of  the  Editors  of  the  Tribune,  who  were  struck 
with  the  novelty  of  its  arrangement,  and  who  were  preparing  an  account  of  the 
Model,  the  MS.  was  loaned  to  them  :  and  they,  with  remarkable  liberality  made 
it  the  basis  of  their  description  of  this  part  of  the  work,  in  a  lengthy  article  on  the 
Model  published  in  their  paper.  July  13.  1846.  a  portion  of  which,  but  sufficiently 
1  arge  for  the  purpose,  will  be  found  on  pages  21  and  2*2  of  this  pamphlet.  It  is  there, 
fore  deemed  unnecessary  to  repeat  the  description  here. 

9 


an  afternoon  to  smoke  their  pipes  under  the  shade  of  the  branches,  con- 
templating the  golden  sun,  as  he  gradually  sunk  in  the  west,  an  emblem 
of  that  tranquil  end  toward  which  themselves  were  hastening;  while  the 
young  men  and  the  damsels  of  the  town  would  take  many  a  moonlight 
stroll  among  these  favorite  haunts,  watching  the  chaste  Cynthin  tremble 
along  the  calm  bosom  of  the  bay,  or  light  up  the  white  sail  of  some 
gliding  bark;  and  interchanging  the  honest  vows  of  constant  atlection."* 

2.  The  semi-circular  building  situated  on  a  mole,  and  connected  with 
the  Battery  by  a  bridge,  is  Castle  Garden,  erected  in  1607  as  a  fortifica- 
tion, but  now  used  as  a  fashionable  place  of  amusement. 

3.  Proceeding  toithe  north-east  from  the  Battery  in  a  perfectly  straight 
line,  a  distance  of  nearly  2  1-2  miles,  is  Broadway,  the  great  thorough- 
fare of  New- York. 

4.  At  the  southern  extremity  of  Broadway  is  the  Bowling  Green,  an 
ellipse,  containing  a  fountain  which  can  be  seen  playing  upon  the  Model. 

5.  Opposite  the  Bowling  Green,  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  adjoining 
the  Battery,  is  the  House  occupied  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  now  the  resi- 
dence of  Andrew  H.  Mickle,  Esq.  Ex-Mayor  of  the  city. 

6.  The  lofty  spire  so  prominent  in  this  part  of  the  Model,  is  that  of 
the  costly  Trinity  Church,  (Episc.)  The  model  of  this  building  is 
composed  of  over  800  pieces  of  wood  and  metal. 

7.  Trinity  Church  stands  at  the  head  of  Wall-street.  The  various 
Banks  and  other  edifices  connected  with  the  monetary  and  commercial 
interests  of  the  city,  can  be  seen  in  various  parts  of  the  street. 

8.  The  marble  structure,  with  Ionic  porticos,  is  the  Custom  House. 

9.  The  magnificent  Merchants'  Exchange  is  a  short  distance  below. 

10.  The  blocks  between  the  Merchants'  Exchange  and  the  Bowling 
Green,  were  the  scene  of  the  fire  of  1845,  which  destroyed  more  than 
$7,000,000  of  property 

11.  A  short  distance  north  of  the  Custom  House,  is  the  Post  Office, 
formerly  the  Middle  Dutch  Church,  but  now  leased  to  the  general  govern- 
ment. During  the  Revolution,  the  interior  wood-work  was  destroyed  by 
the  British,  and  the  building  used  for  military  purposes.  At  one  time  it 
contained  3,000  American  prisoners 

12.  The  next  spire,  as  we  proceed  up  Broadway,  is  that  of  St.  Paul's 
Church.    This  miniature  building  consists  of  over  1000  pieces. 

13.  Opposite  St.  Paul's  Church  is  the  American  Museum,  of  marble. 

14.  The  large  granite  structure  adjoining  St.  Paul's,  is  the  Astor  House. 

15.  We  have  now  reached  the  City  Park,  containing  the  City  Hall  in 
the  center,  the  New  City  Hall  on  the  north  side,  and  the  Hall  of  Re- 
cords and  the  Rotunda,  the  latter  occupied  by  the  offices  of  the  Aims- 
House  Department,  on  the  west  side.  The  southern  portion  of  the  Park 
is  ornamented  by  a  beautiful  fountain  represented  upon  the  Model. 


*  W.  Irving. 


10 


16.  The  spire  adjoining  the  Park,  is  that  of  Dr.Spring's  Church. 

17.  Columbia  College,  embowered  with  trees,  is  now  prominent. 

18.  St.  Peter's  Church,  (R.  Cath.,)  of  granite,  is  near  the  College. 

19.  The  visitor  cannot  have  proceeded  thus  far  without  often  gazing  at 
the  water-craft  which  crowds  the  docks  of  the  North  River.  Here  is  an 
Albany  steamer  leaving  the  pier  on  her  upward  trip.  There  a  tow  boat  is 
conducting  half  a  score  of  barges  to  their  destination.  The  whole  river 
teems  with  the  activity  of  travel  and  trade. 

20.  Washington  Market  stands  on  the  line  of  the  river. 

21.  Beyond  the  Park  is  the  terminus  of  the  Harlem  Rail  Road.  The 
rails  are  seen  upon  the  Model  extending  the  whole  length  of  the  city,  with 
here  and  there  cars  leaving  or  entering  the  city. 

22.  Stewart's  Marble  Store  is  at  the  north  corner  of  the  Park. 

23.  Above  Stewart's  is  the  New-York  Hospital,  with  its  towering  elms. 

24.  The  spacious  Broadway  Tabernacle,  (Cong.,)  is  nearly  opposite. 

25.  The  Society  Library  next  presents  its  fa§ade  of  Ionic  columns. 

26.  The  Halls  of  Justice,  comprising  the  City  Prison  and  other  build- 
ings of  Egyptian  architecture,  are  seen  beyond  the  last  named  edifice. 
Tbey  are  known  in  popular  parlance  by  the  appellation  of  "  the  Tombs." 

27.  Above  "  the  Tombs"  are  the  Gas  Works  with  their  lofty  chimneys 

28.  The  New-Haven  R.  R.  Depot  is  the  marble  building  near  the  Gas 
Works,  on  Canal-street.    A  train  of  cars  is  leaving  the  depot. 

29.  Center  Market,  with  a  cupola,  is  a  few  blocks  above. 

30.  The  beautiful  inclosure  near  the  visitor  from  the  point  he  now  oc- 
cupies, is  St.  John's  Park,  in  front  of  which  is 

31.  St.  John's  Church,  (Episc.,)  with  a  lofty  and  graceful  spire. 

32.  The  blocks  near  the  river  are  crowded  with  Lumber  and  Coal 
Yards.  The  piles  of  boards  and  shingles  are  easily  discerned  on  the 
Model,  while  the  heaps  of  coal  consist  of  the  natural  article. 

33.  At  the  foot  of  Canal-street  is  the  Clinton  Market. 

34.  The  old  Country  Seat  of  Aaron  Burr  is  situated  four  blocks  from 
the  river.    It  is  easily  discerned  by  its  numerous  trees. 

35.  Nearly  in  the  center  of  the  Model  stands  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral, 
(R.  Cath.,)  a  large  building  with  two  spires  or  turrets. 

36.  A  short  distance  above  appears  St.  Bartholomew's  Church.  (Ep.) 

37.  On  the  next  corner  stands  the  Lafayette  Place  Church.  (D.  Ref.) 
3S.  Near  by  is  St.  Thomas's  Church,  (Epis.,)  with  two  towers. 

39.  We  now  come  to  Washington  Square,  facing  which  are  two  of 
the  most  beautiful  edifices  in  the  city. 

40.  The  New- York  City  University  is  the  large  Gothic  structure. 

41.  Adjoining  the  University  is  Dr.  Hutton's  Church.  (Dutch  Ref.) 

42.  The  portion  of  the  city  above  Washington  Square,  is  the  location  of 
the  most  Fashionable  Residences  in  the  city.  Some  of  the  dwellings 
are  of  costly  magnificence. 

43.  The  wide  street  which,  without  a  deviation  from  a  right  line,  runs 

11 


from  river  to  river,  is  Fourteenth-street.  All  the  streets  above  this 
run  likewise  across  the  island,  and  are  numerically  designated. 

NORTH  SIDE. 

44.  The  prominent  Church  in  14th  St.,  is  that  of  the  Annunciation. 

45.  Jefferson  Market,  with  a  watch  tower  and  an  alarm  bell,  ia  a 
short  distance  beyond. 

46.  One  block  east  of  the  market  are  two  churches  of  stone.  The  one 
nearest  the  visitor  is  Dr.  Ph  lups's.  (Pres.) 

47.  The  other  is  the  Church  of  the  Ascension.  (Epis.) 

48.  Dr.  Potts's  Church ,  (Pres.,)  is  one  block  still  farther  to  the  east. 

49.  The  beautiful  oval  inclosure,  with  a  fountain,  in  this  part  of  the 
Modei,  is  Union  Place. 

50.  The  Church  op  the  Puritans  adjoins  Union  Place. 

51.  Grace  Church,  the  splendid  edifice  below,  is  one  of  the  most 
imposing  structures  in  the  city.  The  model  of  this  building  is  a  most 
elaborate  piece  of  workmanship:  it  contains  over  one  thousand  pieces;  it 
required  five  weeks  to  complete  it,  and  cost  over  seventy-five  dollars. 

52.  Madison  Square  s  near  the  border  of  the  Model. 

53.  All  the  streets  running  northerly  in  this  portion  of  the  city,  are  de- 
nominated Avenues,  with  numerical  adjuncts 

54.  In  the  Fourth  Avenue,  the  first  east  of  Madison  Square,  is  the 
Harlem  Rail- Road.   A  train  of  cars  is  seen  on  the  Model  leaving  the  city. 

55.  The  Telegraph  Wires  are  seen  in  the  same  avenue,  as  likewise 

56.  Calvary  Church,  a  grotesque  building  with  two  spires. 

57.  Gramercy  Park  is  the  small  s  uare  near  Calvary  Church. 

58.  The  beautiful  edifice  with  turrets  is  the  Free  Academy. 

59.  The  collection  of  buildings  at  the  north-eastern  corner  of  the  Model, 
belongs  to  the  Aims-House  Department.  The  name  f  Bellevue  is  ap- 
plied to  this  location.    The  grounds  formerly  belonged  to  Lindley  Murray. 

east  sid  . 

60.  The  stream  on  this  side  of  the  Model  is  the  East  River. 

61.  The  first  prominent  object  presenting  itself,  on  turning  the  corner  of 
the  Model,  is  Stuyvesant  Square,  in  front  of  which  is 

62.  St.  George's  Church,  (Epis.,)  a  substantial  edifice  of  stone. 

63.  St.  Mark's  Church,  (Epis.,)  surrounded  by  trees,  is  seen  at  some 
distance  below.  In  the  adjoining  grave  yard  rent  the  re  nains  of  Peter 
Stuyvesant,  the  last  governor  of  New-Netherland  A  pear-tree  planted 
by  his  own  hand  is  in  the  vicinity,  and  represented  on  the  Model. 

64.  The  Opera  House,  a  sand  stone  building  with  pila?ters,  is  a  few- 
blocks  beyond  the  last  named  church.  Here  was  the  scene  of  the  recent 
learful  riot,  in  which  twenty-three  lives  were  list. 

65.  The  Novelty  Works,  an  extensive  manufactory  of  steam  engines 
and  other  machinery,  are  situated  on  the  East  River 

S6   Tompkins  Square  is  :he  large  public  ground  before  the  visitor. 

12 


67.  The  Ship-Yards,  with  vessels  on  the  stocks  in  all  stages  of  pro- 
gress, are  very  conspicuous  on  the  shores  of  the  river. 

68.  A  portion  of  Wallabout  Bay  is  seen  at  the  southern  termination 
of  this  side  of  the  Model. 

69.  The  Artificial  Island  formed  by  wharfing,  and  containing  a  depot 
for  coal,  is  connected  with  the  Navy  Yard. 

70.  A  Portion  of  Brooklyn  now  comes  in  view ;  but  before  entering 
upon  the  description,  we  will  turn  the  next  corner  of  the  Model. 

SOUTH  SIDE. 

71.  The  Navy- Yard  is  now  the  great  object  of  interest  to  the  visitor. 
The  large  ship-houses  are  seen  near  the  water.  The  Naval  Lyceum  is  the 
building  with  pillars,  on  the  main  avenue.  The  Commodore's  residence 
stands  on  an  elevation  near  the  east  wall  of  the  Yard. 

72.  The  first  church  on  leaving  the  Navy  Yard  is  Roman  Catholic. 

73.  A  second  Roman  Catholic  Church  appears  a  few  rods  beyond. 

74.  The  church  with  a  square  tower  is  St.  Ann's,  (Epis). 

75.  Dr.  Cox's  Church  stands  on  the  high  elevation  near  the  water. 

76.  Brooklyn  Hights,  which  terminate  the  portion  of  Brooklyn  re- 
presented on  the  Model,  afford  one  of  the  most  beautiful  views  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  New- York.  The  expansive  sheet  of  water  dotted  with  numerous 
sails,  with  the  emporium  of  commerce  on  the  opposite  shore,  presents  a 
most  interesting  and  imposing  scene. 

77.  As  our  eyes  again  rest  on  the  busy  metropolis,  we  notice  the  Man- 
sion of  William  B.  Crosby,  Esq.,  surrounded  by  trees,  late  the  residence 
of  his  father-in-law,  Col.  Rutgers,  from  whom  Rutgers  Institute  and 
Rutgers-street  derive  their  names. 

78.  Db.  Krebs's  Church,  of  stone,  with  a  square  tower,  next  appears. 

79.  The  floating  Church  of  our  Savior,  (Epis.,)  for  seamen,  with  its 
spire  and  turrets,  is  seen  at  the  foot  of  Pike-street. 

80.  Not  far  distant  is  the  Sectional  Dock  used  for  elevating  vessels. 

81.  The  Comjiercial  Part  of  the  City  is  now  before  the  visitor. 
These  docks  are  crowded  with  vessels  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and  more 
or  less  are  always  leaving  and  entering  the  port. 

82.  The  marble  edifice  with  a  flagstaff,  is  the  United  States  Hotel. 

83.  Fulton  Market  is  situated  on  the  river  in  the  same  vicinity. 

84.  Wall-9treet  now  again  appears.  The  blocks  immediately  south 
of  this  part  of  Wall-street  were  those  destroyed  by  the  great  fire  of  1835. 
The  loss  was  estimated  at  over  $20,000,000. 

85.  The  United  States  Revenue  Boarding  Oftice,  with  a  tower,  is 
situated  at  the  southern  termination  of  the  city. 

We  have  now  completed  a  casual  examination  of  the  Model,  but,  to  do 
justice  to  the  work,  thousands  of  other  objects  should  be  inspected.  Over 
five  millions  of  objects  are  represented— certainly  sufficient  to  present  new 
points  of  interest  at  each  successive  examination. 

13 


Perhaps  no  stronger  argument  could  be  adduced  in  proof  of  the 
the  accuracy  and  beauty  of  the  Model  than  the  universal  enthusi- 
asm with  which  it  has  been  received  by  the  New  York  Press. 

A  few  short  extracts  from  the  hundreds  of  encomums  pronounced 
upon  it  by  the  Reviews,  Magazines,  and  the  Daily  and  Weekly 
Press  of  New  York,  are  subjoined. 

the  well-known  vessels  and  steamers  in 
the  bay  and  rivers.  Nothing  now  in 
this  city  is  better  worth  seeing  ;  and  if 
it  is  to  be  exhibited  over  the  Union,  it 
will  give  people  in  distant  places  a  per- 
lect  idea  of  the  American  Metropolis. 
To  see  it  to  advantage,  it  must  be  stud- 
ied minutely. 

Knickerbocker  Magazine,  Aug.  1810. 

Think  of  this  entire  metropolis,  and 
a  part  of  Brooklyn,  represented  by  the 
individual  street,  lane,  alley,  house, 
open  lot,  tree — every  thing  in  short 
which  the  city  is  and  which  it  contains; 
the  whole  perfect  in  its  proportions,  and 
every  part  entirely  correct  in  its  scale  ! 
It  is  truly  a  wonderful  exhibition,  and 
reflects  great  credit  upon  its  enterpris- 
ing proprietor,  E.  Porter  Belden,  Esq. 

Christian  Parlor  Mag.  Sept.  1546. 
Sights  in  the  City. — In  this  great 
metropolis  ample  provision  is  made  for 
the  gratification  of  the  tastes  of  the 
curious  of  all  characters,  and  no  slight 
effort  is  made  to  entrap  the  unwary 
stranger  and  attract  him  where  he  would 
not  willingly  and  knowingly  be  found. 
There  are  two  places  ot  resort  which 
we  think  of  at  the  moment,  to  which 
we  can  with  entire  propriety  invite  the 
citizen  and  the  stranger  who  may  have 
an  hour  or  two  to  appropriate  in  exam- 
ining the  wonders  of  art.  »  »  «  • 
The  other  city  sight,  which  is  spoken 
of  with  astonishment  by  all  who  have 
seen  it,  is  Belden's  miniature  of  New 
York  city,  in  which  every  house,  public 
and  private,  every  tree,  post  4tc.  is  ac- 
curately copied  or  carved  in  wood. — 
Visiters  at  one  glance  can  thus  obtain  a 
perfect  view  of  the  whole  city,  and  a 
part  of  Brooklyn.  It  is  a  monument  of 
patient  labor  and  curious  art. 

Knickerbocker.  Sept.  1S18. 
Looking  the  other  day  at  Mr.  Belden's 
Model  of  New  York,  (that  most  faith- 
ful 'picture  in  little'  of  our  great  me- 
tropolis,) and  admiring  the  admiiable 
proportion  which  has  been  so  accurate- 
ly preserved  in  every  feature  of  the 
vast  miniature  city,  we  were  irresistibly 
led  to  think  of  Gulliver  in  Lilliput.  In- 
deed, it  required  nothing  but  a  thousand 
or  two  1  humans'  bustling  through  the 
little  streets  lo  have  made  the  illusiou 
complete . 

15 


From  the  American  Rev.,  Aug.  1*16. 

The  Model  of  the  City  of  New 
York. — Among  the  many  happy  pro- 
ductions of  the  modem  art  of  perspec- 
tive drawing,  we  have  always  been 
particularly  interested  in  the  aeroscopic 
or  bird's  eye  views  of  great  cities.  Lon- 
don, Paris  and  Rome  especially,  taken 
in  this  way,  have  been  lo  us  particular 
studies;  and  we  may  safelv  say  that 
we  have  gained  in  one  hour  a  better 
knowledge  of  the  physical  aspect  of 
those  '-places  powerful  acd  eke  re- 
nowned,' than  we  have  from  reading 
any  books.  But  no  such  pictorial  view, 
however  skillfully  executed,  can  equal 
in  faithfulness  and  reality  of  impres- 
sion the  exhibition  of  a  city  in  carved 
blocks  of  wood,  by  which  every  street 
and  building,  with  all  the  docks  and 
water-craft  shall  be  reproduced  to  the 
eye,  with  an  exact  attention  to  propor- 
tion. We  do  not  know  that  we  have 
ever  been  more  struck  with  any  curious 
work  of  art  than  with  the  "  Model  of 
New  York  city,"  now  on  exhibition, 
constructed  by  Mr.  E.  P.  Belden.  The 
felicitous  minuteness  displayed  in  this 
creation — for  it  is  a  creation — is  wonder- 
ful. The  whole  piece  is  constructed  on 
several  compartments,  which,  united, 
make  a  platform  of  nearly  thirty  feet 
square.  The  city  is  thus  represented 
entire,  together  with  all  Brooklyn,  and 
the  North  and  East  rivers,  with  their 
forests  of  masts  and  water-craft.  Ev- 
ery  street  is  seen,  no  longer  or  wider 
than  it  should  be  in  comparison  with 
every  other.  Each  budding,  large  or 
small,  whether  the  Astor  House,  the 
University,  or  a  sentry-box,  is  carved 
out  of  a  separate  piece  of  wood,  and 
put  in  its  place,  with  the  exact  color 
and  proportion  that  belong  to  it. — 
Probibly  not  a  man  in  the  city  but  could 
at  once  point  out  his  own  dwelling. 
Some  of  the  larger  structures,  as  Trin- 
ity and  Grace  churches,  the  City  Hall, 
the  University,  the  Custom-House,  and 
Merchants'  Exchange,  are  exquisitely 
shaped  and  finished,  and  would  fetch 
high  prices  as  models.  The  number  of 
separate  pieces  composing  some  of 
them  amount  to  several  hundreds. — 
Grace  has  over  one  thousand.  So  mi- 
nute is  the  work,  that  the  very  awning- 
posts  are  given,  and  ail  the  rigging  on 


From  the  N.  Y.  Jonr.  of  Commerce, 
Feb.  7,  1846. 
Model  of  New  York. — A  most  in- 
genious piece  of  mechanism  has  been 
lor  some  time  past  in  process  ot  con- 
struction at  No.  360  Broadway.  It  is 
nothing  less  than  an  actual  Model  of 
New  York, — including  every  building, 
street,  wharf,  park,  tic.  &c.  In  short, 
it  presents  this  great  metropolis  in  min- 
iature, to  the  eye,  at  one  view,  with  its 
innumerable  objects  all  carved  in  wood, 
according  to  their  actual  proportions 
and  relations  to  each  other.  The  a- 
mnunt  of  labor  bestowed  upon  it,  is 
necessarily  great. 

From  N.  Y.  Son,  Feb.  1846. 

It  is  no  more  nor  less  than  a  Model 
of  this  entire  city,  representing  its  ev- 
ery object.  For  enterprize  arid  perse- 
verance, Mr.  Belden  cannot  be  beaten. 
N.  Y.  Herald,  Feb.  1846. 

What  an  immense  amount  of  labor 
must  be  requisite,  thus  to  present  to  the 
eye  a  perfect  miniature  ot  every  object 
iu  this  great  metropolis. 

N.  Y.  Express,  Feb.  1846. 
E.  Porter  Belden,  Esq.  the  proprietor 
of  the  Model  of  New  Haven,  now  ex- 
hibiting at  the  Granite  Building,  is  con- 
structing at  360  Broadway  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  pieces  of  mechanism 
we  have  ever  heard  of.  It  is  an  actual 
miniature  in  carved  wood  of  this  entire 
city. 

N.  Y.  Eve.  Mirror,  March  3d,  1846. 

The  work  is  supposed  by  many  to  be 
merely  continuous  block  lines  running 
along  the  sides  of  streets,  representing 
roofs  and  houses — a  sort  of  birds-eye 
view  of  the  city.  Such  is  not  the  case 
— it  is  a  perfect  model  of  New  York 
(as  high  upas  32d street)  and  a  portion 
of  Brooklyn,  Governor's  Island,  &c. — 
Every  house  in  the  city,  with  trees  and 
tenements  appertaining  thereto,  will  be 
found  in  its  proper  place  and  represent- 
ed correctly  iu  all  respects — length, 
breadth,  height,  color— even  every  win- 
dow front  and  rear,  chimnies  &c. 

IV.  Y.  Sun,  March  11,  1846. 

The  long  desired  Model  of  this  city, 
is,  we  are  happy  to  announce,  now  in 
course  of  construction,  and  win  be 
shortly  completed.  It  is  to  Mr.  E.  Por- 
ter Belden,  a  gentleman  of  well  known 
ingenuity,  and  constructor  of  the  cele- 
brated Model  of  New  Haven,  Ct.  that 
the  public  will  be  indebted  for  this  in- 
teresting work.    Every  street,  alley, 

16 


lane,  building,  shed,  or  yard  in  this  city 
or  Brooklyn  will  be  faithfully  represent- 
ed and  accurately  put  down.  It  will  in 
short  be  a  perfect  miniature  of  New 
York — the  Metropolis  of  America — the 
fourth  city  in  the  world,  and  from  its 
name  alone  will  attract  more  attention, 
in  this  and  the  old  country,  than  any- 
thing of  the  kind  ever  exhibited.  It 
will  be  composed  of  carved  wood,  and 
no  pains  or  expense  will  be  spared  to 
render  it  complete  to  the  minutest  par- 
ticular. We  heartily  wish  Mr.  Belden 
that  success  which  he  so  justly  merits. 

N.  Y.  Sun,  March  18,  1846. 

What  is  this  Model  ol  NewYork  like  ? 
When  will  it  be  ready  for  exhibition  ? 
Questions  like  these  are  continually  be- 
ing put  to  us — We  will  therefore  for  the 
benefit  of  our  readers  at  large,  endeavor 
to  give  them  the  requisite  information. 
On  a  platform  of  nearly  thirty  feet 
square,  the  artist  has  contrived  to  rep- 
resent the  whole  city  of  New  York  and 
part  of  Brooklyn,  in  carved  wood,  to- 
gether with  the  shipping  and  steam- 
boats, lying  at  the  various  wharves,  so 
as  to  convey  a  more  accurate  impres- 
sion to  the  eye,  than  any  painting  could 
possibly  effect.  Not  only  are  the  pub- 
lic buildings,  churches,  &c.  exact  spec- 
imens of  architecture  on  a  small  scale, 
but  every  inhabitant  of  New  York  will 
be  enabled  to  recognize  his  own  dwell- 
ing. In  fact  the  whole  expanse  o 
streets,  lanes  and  houses,  will  lie 
stretched  out  belore  the  visiter  as  it 
would  appear  to  a  person  viewing  it 
from  a  balloon — with  this  advantage — 
that  he  will  be  spared  the  nervous  feel- 
ing incidental  to  an  aeronautic  expedi- 
tion, and  be  enabled  to  view  it  from  any 
point  he  pleases.  We  shall  recur  to 
this  interesting  subject  in  a  few  days 
and  review  it  more  in  detail. 

N.  Y.  Sun,  March  23,  1846. 
Model  of  New  York. — This  splen- 
did work,  now  construct  ing  by  E.  Porter 
Belden,  Esq.  for  magnitude  of  design, 
exactness  of  detail  and  beauty  of  execu- 
tion, surpasses  anything  hitherto  pro- 
duced. Every  house  taken  singly,  will 
bear  close  examination,  and  every  mer- 
chant ship  or  steamboat,  if  placed  in  a 
glass  case,  would  be  considered  a  fin- 
ished specimen  of  skilful  workmanship 
and  bear  the  scrutiny  of  the  naval  pro- 
fession. Each  distinct  part  would  form 
a  beautiful  picture.  There  is  Trinity 
Church  with  its  magnificent  gothic  spire 
— Grace  Church  with  its  light  Norman 
arched  windows  and  rich  tracery — our 
2 


noble  Exchange  and  Custom  House — 
ihe  Cuy  Hall  and  Gallery  of  Arts — the 
vast  and  substantial  Aslor  House — old 
Tammany,  and  Stewards  elegant  new 
marble  building  i'l  Broadway — Cottage 
Place  in  the  ninth  ward,  with  its  fairy 
like  piazzas  to  every  story — and  the 
gloomy  Egyptian  Tombs.  There  are 
the  Novelty  Iron  Works  with  their 
foundries  and  workshops,  the  yard  filled 
with  miniature  machinery — the  numer- 
ous lumber  yards  tilled  with  timber, 
coal  yards  with  piles  of  genuine  Peach 
Orchard  and  Liverpool,  and  the  stone 
yards  with  blocks  of  real  granite  and 
marble.  The  Harle  m  railroad ,  with  the 
trains  of  baggage  and  passenger  cars 
are  faithfully  represented,  and  the  dif- 
ferent Parks  and  the  beautiful  Battery, 
covered  with  groves  of  trees,  rivalling 
the  verdant  appearance  of  nature  itself. 
The  particular  form  of  every  root  and 
chimney  is  complete,  and  the  interior 
buildings  to  the  smallest  shed  and  fence, 
are  duly  attended  to.  There  are  the 
churches,  school  houses,  hotels  and 
nnrk.  ;ts — lamp  posts,  liberty  poles, 
flag  staffs,  awning  posts — nothing  is 
omitted.  The  splendid  mansion  and 
the  meanest  shanty — each  has  its  rep- 
resentative in  this  magnificent  and  com- 
prehensive model. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  East  river 
is  the  Navy  Yard  with  the  men  of  war 
lying  moored — the  city  ot  Brooklyn 
stretching  out  into  the  bay — while  the 
water  is  covered  with  merchantmen  and 
smaller  vessels, — the  steamer  Great 
Britain,  a  perfect  fac  similie  of  that 
gigantic  steam  ship— the  North  Caroli- 
na" guard-ship,  and  300  square  rigged 
vessels,  lying  at  the  different  wharves, 
with  an  innumerable  number  of  smaller 
craft.  To  crown  all,  the  natural  ap- 
pearance of  the  marble,  granite  or  brick 
of  which  the  buildings  are  composed, 
combines  to  render  the  whole  thing 
unique  of  its  kind.  In  a  word  it  pre- 
sents as  exact  a  view  of  New  York,  as 
the  city  itself  would  if  viewed  through 
the  inverted  end  of  a  tele>cope.  In 
conclusion  we  can  but  feel  certain,  that 
this  great  undertaking  of  Mr.  Belden 
will  be  duly  appreciated  not  only  by  the 
citizens  of  this  metropolis  and  the  sis- 
ter cities  of  our  republic,  but  by  the  in- 
habitants of  those  foreign  countries,  to 
whose  shores  Mr.  Belden  may  see  fit 
to  transport  the  great  city  of  the  New 
World  ;  and  that  it  will  be  to  him  the 
source  of  an  ample  fortune. 

N.  Y.  Tribune,  April  4,  1846. 

Mojiel  or  New  York. — Our  readers 


have  already  noticed  that  E.  Porter 
Belden,  Ksq.  proprietor  of  the  Model  of 
New  Haven,  is  constructing  a  Model  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  in  carved  wood, 
at  360  Broadway. 

This  we  conceive  to  be  one  of  the 
greatest  undertakings  ever  attempted. 
The  Model  is  constructed  upon  an  im- 
mense platform  representing  the  ground 
with  all  its  natural  elevations  and  de- 
pressions, and  the  eye  of  the  spectator 
takes  in  at  one  view  every  object  with 
its  relative  size,  proportions  and  color, 
from  the  Battery  to  Bellevue  Hospital. 
Indeed  it  would  seem  as  if  by  some 
immense  mechanical  power,  the  whole 
city  had  been  compressed  into  smaller 
limits,  accurately  preserving  its  outlines 
and  minutest  traits . 

This  description  seems  almost  incred- 
ible, but  it  is  not  the  least  exaggerated 
— at  any  rate  the  work  is  fast  approach- 
ing to  completion,  when  every  one  will 
have  the  opportunity  of  judging  for 
himself,  whether  his  house  is  accurately 
represented  or  not. 

The  steamboats  and  shipping  which 
are  shewn  at  the  fullest  season,  togeth- 
er with  the  Navy  Yard  at  Brooklyn  and 
the  men  of  war  lying  at  anchor,  will  add 
to  the  interest  of  this  stupendous  spec- 
imen of  mechanical  skill.  Our  readers 
may  easily  conceive  the  snperior  advan- 
tages which  a  model  possesses  over  a 
painting,  as  in  the  latter  although  the 
objects  in  the  foreground  are  distinctly 
portrayed,  those  in  the  back  ground  are 
necessarily  obscure  ;  while  in  viewing 
the  former,  the  spectator  may  choose 
his  own  position  and  inspect  it  from  all 
parts  of  the  compass  as  his  own  fancy 
may  dictate.  Everything  combines  to 
render  this  one  of  the  most  curious  ex- 
hibitions ever  submitted  to  the  public, 
and  we  have  no  doubt  it  will  meet  with 
extensive  patronage. 

H.  Y.  True  Sun,  April  16,  1846. 

We  understand  that  the  proprietor  of 
this  great  work  is  now  engaged  in  erect- 
ing a  splendid  Canopy  to  overhang  the 
Model.  This  is  a  most  beautiful  speci- 
men of  gothic  architecture,  supported 
on  splendid  columns,  with  carved  pin- 
nacles. 

N.  Y.  Tribane,  April  IT,  1846. 

The  immense  labor  and  great  inge- 
nuity displayed  in  the  construction  of 
the  Model  of  New  York,  is  the  theme  of 
admiration  of  all  those  persons,  who 
have  been  permitted  to  view  this  great 
work  while  in  progress.  When  com 
pleted  we  question  if  it  will  not  be  re- 
3  17 


cognized  throughout  the  United  States 
Dy  the  soubriquet  of  New  York  Junior, 
from  the  strong  family  likeness  it  bears 
to  its  elder  sister. 

A  better  subject  for  a  model  could  not 
have  been  selected,  as  perhaps  lhere  is 
no  city  in  the  world  possessing  the  same 
natural  advantages  of  situation.  It 
presents  with  its  surrounding  scenery, 
a  line  field  for  the  display  of  the  artist, 
which  Mr.Belden,  with  his  natural  tact, 
has  not  failed  to  avail  himself  of  to  the 
fullest  extent. 

From  the  "  Commercial  Article"  ol 
N.  Y.  Tribune,  April  22,  1846. 

We  have  frequently  had  occasion  to 
call  the  attention  of  the  manufacturing 
and  trading  community  to  the  many  ad- 
vantages ot  advertising,  but  it  remained 
for  Mr.  E.  Porter  Belden,  the  talented 
proprietor  of  the  splendid  Model  of  this 
city,  which  he  has  now  nearly  comple- 
ted, to  make  the  public  exhibition  of  a 
Work  of  art  the  vehicle  ot  advertise- 
ments the  most  attractive  and  exten- 
sive. 

This  Model,  with  its  magnificent  can- 
opy, will  be  the  greatest  work  of  the 
kind  ever  undertaken  either  in  this 
country  or  Europe,  and,  in  its  exhibi- 
tion in  all  the  important  cities  of  both 
Hemispheres,  will  be  visited  by  thou- 
sands ;  and  when  we  consider  that  im- 
provements in  our  manufacture.'-,  in  the 
modes  of  transit,  and  the  removal  of 
restrictions  on  trade,  will  create  demand 
for  many  of  our  products  and  manufac- 
tures hitherto  unthought  of  as  articles 
of  export,  the  importance  to  our  manu- 
facturers and  traders  of  becoming  known 
throughout  the  whole  civilized  world, 
cannot  be  overrated.  We  should  wish 
to  give  the  world,  in  connection  with 
this  miniature  of  our  city,  a  proof  of 
our  immense  trade.  A  new  era  in  com- 
merce is  commencing,  and  we  hope  that 
that  enterprise  which  has  so  honorably 
marked  the  history  of  American  trade, 
will  take  advantage  of  this  splendid  op- 
portunity which  native  talent  presents 
of  seeking  a  market  in  every  quarter  of 
the  globe,  thereby  promoting  the  wealth 
and  happiness  of  our  people,  and  taking 
our  high  place  among  the  great  com- 
mercial nations  of  the  world. 

N.  Y.  Eve.  Post,  April  23,  1946. 

Model  of  New  York.— E.  Porter 
Belden,  Esq.  who  projected  and  execu- 
ted the  beautiful  model  of  New  Haven, 
emboldened  by  his  success,  afterwards 
planned  a  model  of  New  York  and  its 
18 


environs,  to  be  carved  in  wood  ;  and 
undismayed  by  the  obstacles  and  diffi- 
culties that  so  vast  an  undertaking 
would  naturally  present,  has,  by  in- 
domitable perseverance  and  mechanical 
skill,  brought  his  labors  nearly  to  a 
close. 

It  is  the  most  surprising  and  elabor- 
ate piece  of  mechanism  ever  achieved. 
The  life  like  appearance  of  this  minia- 
ture city  is  so  deceptive,  that  it  requires 
no  very  great  stretch  of  the  imagination 
to  fancy  you  hear  the  hum  and  buzz  of 
the  dwellers  within. 

The  spectator  can  not  fail  to  be  im- 
pressed with  the  beauty  of  the  public 
buildings,  churches  &c,  while  the 
dwelling  houses,  and  even  the  interior 
buildings,  present  the  most  finished  ap- 
pearance, and  bear  witness  to  the  pa- 
tient and  sedulous  attention  of  the  pro- 
prietor.  Thousands  are  under  the  im- 
pression that  the  model  consists  of  a 
number  of  rough  and  indistinct  objects, 
laid  down  in  lines  of  streets,  giving  in 
the  aggregate,  an  idea  of  the  general 
appearance  of  the  city.  Little  are 
those  persons  aware  of  the  actnal  na- 
ture of  the  work,  or  of  the  intense  ap- 
plication and  mechanical  skill,  that  has 
been  brought  into  play  in  consummating" 
the  result.  During  the  last  twelve 
months,  in  fine  or  foul  weather,  the  in- 
defatigable employe's  of  Mr.  Belden  may 
have  been  seen  at  their  respective  posts, 
pencil  in  hand,  surveying  every  street, 
lane,  or  back  alley,  nook  or  corner,  of 
this  great  metropolis. 

Every  house  or  tenement,  to  the 
smallest  shed  in  the  rear  of  the  blocks, 
has  been  modelled  from  sketches  made 
by  good  draughtsmen,  and  this,  when 
completed,  has  been  subjected  to  the 
rigid  scrutiny  of  compeient  persons. — 
The  manner  in  which  every  minute  de- 
tail has  been  managed  is  truly  astonish- 
ing— the  particular  pitch  of  the  roofs, 
and  proportionate  size  of  the  doors, 
windows,  chimnies&c,  are  all  preserv- 
ed— even  the  lines  of  the  brick  work, 
stone,  or  whatever  the  buildings  are 
composed  of,  is  imitated. 

Thns  our  fellow  citizens  cannot  fail 
to  recognize  their  own  dwellings  and 
other  familiar  objects,  and  the  inhab- 
itants of  distant  cities,  by  having  this 
beautiful  miniature  brought  to  their 
firesides,  will  derive  from  it  all  the  ad- 
vantages of  an  actual  visit  to  this  great 
metropolis,  without  incurring  the  ex- 
penses and  inconveniences  attendant 
upon  a  sojourn  in  a  large  city. 


W.  Y.  Com.  Advertiser,  April  23, 1946 

Model  or  New  York. — We  hav 
visited  with  gratification  this  interest- 
ing work  of  art,  now  approaching  com- 
pletion, by  Mr.  E.  Poner  Beiilen,  at  his 
rooms  360  Broadway.  The  accuracy  of 
such  parts  of  it  as  are  finished  is  sur- 
prising, and  the  magnitude  of  the  whole 
work  much  greater  than  we  had  imag- 
ined, occupying  an  area  of  nearly  500 
feet,  and  to  be  surmounted  by  a  canopy, 
decorated  in  the  most  florid  gothic 
style,  which  must  present  a  noble  and 
imposing  appearance. 

Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
amount  of  capital  and  talent  employed 
in  this  undertaking  lrom  the  fact,  that 
Dot  only  hare  each  building,  out-house 
and  fence,  but  even  doors  and  windows, 
been  actually  drawn  before  being  mod- 
eled, and  that  when  modeled  a  careful 
comparison  has  been  made  with  the 
original,  and  any  inaccuracy,  even  to 
the  position  of  a  dormer  window  or 
chimney,  corrected ;  so  again,  when 
painted,  even  the  shades  of  unpainted 
brick  work  are  required  by  Mr.  lielden 
to  be  perfect  and  are  again  examined 
to  ascertain  that  they  are  so 

Upon  the  public  buildings  appear  to 
have  been  lavished  skill  and  care  in  a 
most  extraordinary  degree.  Their  pro- 
portions, and  the  ornaments  peculiar  to 
their  different  styles  of  architecture, 
have  been  preserved  as  none  but  per- 
sons combining  architectural  knowledge 
and  great  ingenuity  could  have  done  — 
But  perhaps  the  most  interesting  fact 
we  could  mention  in  connection  with 
the  model  of  a  great  city  is,  that  every 
steamboat  belonging  tn  this  port  is  a 
perfect  miniature,  made  lrom  actual 
measurement  and  displaying  the  pecu- 
liarities of  construction  observable  in 
each,nol  even  excepting  the  ferry  boats  ; 
and  that  each  of  our  noble  packet  ships 
may  be  reccgnized  by  its  perfect  repre- 
sentation, even  to  the  ropes  and  spars, 
not  one  of  which  is  wanting 

The  great  number  of  objects  worthy 
of  remark  in  this  Model  are  too  numer- 
ous for  a  single  notice.  We  shall  recur 
to  it  again,  but  cannot  close  without  ex- 
pressiug  our  conviction  that  in  under- 
taking this,  the  greatest  work  ot  the 
kind  ever  attempted,  Mr.  Beldcn  has 
earned  for  himself  the  gratitude  of  ev- 
ery New  Yorker,  as  well  as  that  pecu- 
niary reward  to  which  enterprise  and 
talent  are  entitled. 

N.  Y.  Com.  Adv'r,  April  29,  1846. 

The  advantages  to  our  business  men, 
not  only  in  every  locality  of  the  United 
7 


States  but  in  all  the  principal  cities  of 
Europe,  must  be  manifold  at  a  time 
when  increasing  facilities  of  commu- 
nication are  rapidly  abolishing  distance 
N.  Y.  Tribune,  May  16,  1846. 

It  is  to  E.  Porter  Belden,  Esq.,  the 
talented  proprietor  of  the  Model  of  New 
York,  to  whom  the  commercial  and 
trading  interests  of  the  community  are 
indebted  for  this  valuable  invention — 
a  gentleman  who,  in  achieving  one  of 
the  most  extensive  and  elaborate  works 
of  art  ever  attempted,  has  immortal- 
ized his  name. 

Mr.  Belden  is  now  constructing  a 
most  splendid  canopy  of  Gothic  archi- 
tecture, supported  by  elegant  columns, 
to  surmount  the  platform  on  which  the 
City  is  represented.  Ornamented  pro- 
fusely with  gold  and  carved  work,  it 
will  be  in  itself  a  magnificent  spectacle, 
and  second  only  in  interest  to  the 
Model. 

N.  Y.  True  Sun,  May  16,  1846. 

Old  and  young,  of  all  grades,  will 
naturally  crowd  to  see  a  perfect  minia- 
ture of  that  city,  which,  above  all  oth- 
ers in  the  Union,  has  so  excited  their 
curiosity — that  city  from  whence  they 
receive  the  fashions,  and  the  luxuries 
so  dearly  prized  in  the  South  and  Far 
West. 

N.  Y.  Eve.  Mirror,  May  19,  1846. 

It  is  with  mingled  feelings  of  pride 
and  admiration,  we  take  up  the  pen  to 
give  a  brief  description  of  the  magnifi- 
cent model  of  our  city,  now  nearly  com- 
pleted. 

We  have  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
a  drawing  of  the  canopy,  which  is  now 
being  constructed  to  overhang  the  mod- 
el. We  cannot  conceive  a  more  beau- 
tiful spectacle  than  this  object  will  pre- 
sent, when  completed  :  and  it  will  lorm 
a  very  flattering  testimonial  to  the  taste 
of  the  enterprising  proprietor.  No  ex- 
hibition that  has  ever  been  to  the 
southern  and  western  cities,  could  pos- 
sess such  attractions  for  the  inhabit- 
ants, as  a  faithful  delineation  of  New 
York,  the  Metropolis  of  the  Union,  the 
emporium  of  commerce  and  fashion, 
and  in  fact  the  city  of  which  all  have 
heard  and  longed  to  visit. 

Y.  Herald,  May  26,  1846. 

We  yesterday  visited  the  rooms  of 
Mr.  E.  P.  Belden,  360  Broadway,  to  in- 
spect a  model  of  New  York  city  and 
Brooklyn,  got  up  under  his  superinten- 
dence. The  plan  covers  an  extent  of 
600  square  feet,  representing  every 

19 


street  and  avenue  in  the  city,  together 
with  the  shipping  in  the  river  ;  Brook- 
lyn, with  its  navy  yard,  &c.&c.  It  is  a 
gigantic  undertaking  and  is  deserving  of 
patronage.  Wnen  finished,  it  will  be 
exhibited  in  this  and  other  cities  ol  the 
Union,  and  afterwards  sent  to  Europe 
for  exhibition.  It  is  a  perfect  model  of 
the  city,  every  building  being  duly  rep- 
resented. There  are  jac  simile  models 
of  the  steamboats  and  shipping,  of 
Brooklyn  Heights,  of  the  Parks,  with 
their  tiny  fountains  bubbling  up  in  the 
midst.  When  completed,  it  will  be  the 
most  extensive  thing  of  the  kind  in  the 
world.  It  will  be  open  for  exhibition  in 
a  few  days. 

N.  Y.  Tribnne,  July  2,  1846. 

We  have  before  noticed  the  beautiful 
Model  of  New  York,  now  being  con- 
structed at  380  Broadway,  but  now  that 
it  approaches  to  completion  we  recur  to 
the  subject  with  renewed  pleasure. — 
We  have  often  heard  the  remark,  "why 
expend  so  much  time  and  labor  upon 
minute  details,  when  a  rough  sketch 
would  be  sufficient  to  produce  all  the 
desired  effect  V  Now  we  consider  that 
in  this  particular  the  proprietor  has  ex- 
hibited profound  judgment,  for  the 
thonghlful  spectator  may  visit  it  again 
and  again,  each  time  discovering  new 
beauties.  What  exquisite  specimens  of 
skillful  workmanship  are  the  public 
buildings  !  and  then  the  churches,  so 
highly  and  elaborately  finisht  d  as  to 
bear  examination  through  a  magnifying 
glass.  Why  the  ladies  would  be  de- 
lighted to  have  them  under  glass  shades, 
as  drawing-room  ornaments. 

We  could  easily  imagine  a  person  of 
contemplative  mind  gazing  upon  the 
vast  city  spread  out  belore  him,  until 
the  Model  became  reality.  While 
viewing  Brooklyn  Hights,  recognizing 
at  each  glance  the  villa  of  a  friend,  or 
some  beautiful  and  well  known  object, 
his  mind  would  become  so  absorbed 
that  the  model  would  be  forgotten,  and 
the  identical  scene  would  lie  before  him. 
He  would  momentarily  expect  to  hear 
the  bell  at  the  South  Ferry,  and  see  the 
Kerry  boat  glide  out  from  the  slip  with 
its  tiny  load  of  passengers. 

We  are  happy  to  hear  that  the  Mod- 
el is  completed,  and  the  artists  are  now 
busily  engaged  in  ornamenting  the 
Canopy  which  will  surmount  the  whole. 
This  promises  to  be  a  mosl  magnificent 
affair,  and  will  be  equally  attractive  as 
the  Model.  More  than  100  persons  are 
now  employed  upon  the  work  and  the 

20 


most  strenuous  efforts  are  being  made 
to  get  the  exhibition  ready  by  Saturday 
next — 4th  July.  Among  the  many 
amusements  provided  for  the  public  on 
that  day,  none  will  be  more  interesting, 
and  at  the  same  time  more  rational, 
than  a  visit  to  the  Model  of  the  Great 
Metropolis. 

The  proprietor  deserves  the  thanks 
and  good  wishes  of  the  citizens  of  New 
York  for  the  truthful  manner  in  which 
he  has  portrayed  our  native  oily,  and 
for  the  very  correct  idea  of  our  vast 
commerce  which  it  will  convey  to  the 
dwellers  In  the  far  West,  as  well  as  to 
the  inhabitants  of  foreign  countries. 
Eve.  Mirror,  July  2,  1846. 

This  miniature  model  of  the  city  is 
wonderfully  true  to  nature,  and  if  it 
v/ere  only  possible  to  introduce  lights 
into  the  tiny  lamps,  and  the  windows  of 
the  houses,  the  illusion  at  night  would 
be  perfect.  It  is  certainly  one  of  the 
most  gigantic  projects  ever  conceived, 
and  has  been  executed  with  such  atten- 
tion to  detail,  that  it  will  be  viewed 
with  astonishment  both  in  the  United 
States  and  Europe. 

May  success  commensurate  with  the 
enterprize,  attend  the  proprietor,  for  a 
more  extraordinary  and  meritorious  ex- 
hibition has  never  before  appeared  in 
this  country,  nor,  we  may  safely  say, 
in  any  other. 

True  Sun,  July  2,  1846. 

Model  of  New  York. — It  is  with 
great  pleasure  we  refer  to  this  interest- 
ing and  prolific  subject.  We  are  happy 
to  announce,  that  the  work  is  nearly 
completed,  every  exertion  being  made 
by  the  spirited  proprietor  to  have  the 
Model  ready  for  exhibition  on  the  ap- 
proaching anniversary  of  our  indepen- 
dence. Thus,  in  a  space  of  little  over 
12  months,  Mr.  Belden  will  have  suc- 
ceeded in  not  only  building  a  second 
city  of  New  York,  but  also  vast  fleets 
of  men  of  war  and  packet  ships,  and  in 
making  exact  duplicates  of  all  the 
steamboats  belonging  to  this  port  down 
to  the  smallest  ferry  boat.  Truly,  this 
undertaking  would  bear  compari-on 
with  the  labors  of  Hercules.  We  may 
safely  predict  an  overflowing  crowd  of 
visitors  on  that  day,  when  the  entire 
population  of  the  city  are  agog  for 
amusement. 

N.  Y.  Tribune.  July  4,  1846. 

Completion  of  the  Moiel  of  New 
York. — It  wil1  be  seen  by  the  adver- 
tisement in  another  column  that  the 
citizens  of  New  York  will  at  length  be 
C 


gratified  by  a  view  of  this  long  expect- 
ed work  of  art.  Mr.  Belden  has  en- 
gaged the  large  hall  of  the  Miuerva 
Rooms,  Broadway,  and  opens  it  for  ex- 
hibition this  day.  A  visit  to  the  Model 
will  lorm  a  delightful  method  of  recre- 
ation, and  will  atibrd  to  strangers  an 
excellent  opportunity  of  obtaining  a 
correct  idea  of  the  wealth,  commerce, 
and  vast  extent  of  this  Metropolis. — 
The  difficulties  attending  this  undertak- 
ing have  been  immense,  but  the  native 
industry  and  perseverance  of  the  pro- 
prietor have  overcome  all  obstacles, 
and  this  interesting  work  has  been  tri- 
umphantly brought  to  a  close. 

This  exhibition  is  eminently  worthy 
of  patronage,  and  should  be  visited  by 
all  who  have  the  interest  of  their  native 
city  at  heart. 

N.  Y.  True  Sun,  July  4,  1846. 

At  last  we  may  announce  to  our  read- 
ers that  '.he  long*  desired  Model  of  New 
York  will  be  exhibited  at  the  large  hall 
of  the  Minerva  Rooms  this  present  4th 
of  July.  We  have  had  the  pleasure  of 
viewing  it  in  detached  portions,  while 
in  progress  of  construction,  and  we  now 
promise  ourselves  a  rich  treat  in  seeing 
it  again  in  a  slate  of  completion.  The 
accuracy  with  which  every  minute  ob- 
ject is  finished,  is  truly  astounding,  and 
we  are  convinced  that  the  public  at 
large  are  little  aware  of  the  immense 
labor  bestowed  upon  this  work  to  render 
it  such  a  perfect  far.  simile  of  the  city. 
Nothing  is  omitted  in  the  representa- 
tion. The  same  attention  and  labor 
have  been  expended  on  the  humblest 
shanty,  as  on  the  noblest  mansion. 

N.  Y.  Eve.  Mirror,  July  9,  1 846. 

Openisg  of  th^  Model  of  New 
York.  —  This  magnificent  exhibition 
was  thrown  open  tor  public  exhibition 
on  Saturday  last,  but  in  spile  of  the  ex- 
ertions of  Mr.  Belden  and  his  numerous 
corps  of  assistants  to  the  number  of  100, 
this  much  desired  object  was  not  eflect- 
ed  until  5  o'clock,  P.  M.,  thus  disap- 
pointing numerous  visitors  who  called 
in  the  earlier  part  of  the  day.  Yet, 
notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  so  great  was  the  anxiety  to 
view  this  unique  and  wonderful  work  of 
art,  that  the  exhibition  room  was  filled 
with  visiters  until  the  closing  hour  of 
10  o'clock.  Many  were  the  exclama- 
tions of  delight  and  astonishment  elic- 
ited from  those  present  as  they  recog- 
nised the  houses  and  other  objects  so 
familiar  to  them. 


N.  Y.  Albion,  Jnly  11,  1946. 

Mr.  Belden  has  completed  his  ardu- 
ous undertaking  to  furnish  a  complete 
model  of  this  city  and  Brooklyn  and  it 
is  now  exhibiting  at  the  Minerva  Rooms 
Broadway.  Some  idea  may  be  lormed 
ot  the  care  and  labor  expended  on  the 
work  when  we  state  that  about  one 
hundred  artists  have  been  employed  in 
its  construction  for  a  year  past.  Of  its 
fidelity  and  exquisite  finish  we  can 
speak  with  unequivocal  praise — not  the 
minutest  poims  have  been  overlooked; 
every  building  and  object  of  interest 
in  this  vast  metropolis  has  been  mod- 
elled with  an  accuracy  and  finish  of  exe- 
cution really  surprising. 

N.  Y.  Tribune,  July  13,  1846. 

Our  City  is  Miniature. — We  have 
before  noticed  the  completion  of  this 
tremendous  work  of  art,  and  referred 
in  general  terms  to  the  accuracy  of  the 
representation.  We  now  turn  to  some 
of  its  astonishing  details,  which  cannot 
fail  to  interest  those  who  are  attached 
to  their  native  or  adopted  city. 

Commencing  at  the  southern  end  of 
the  platforn.  on  which  the  city  is  rep- 
resented, we  have  the  Battery  with  its 
benches,  its  pallisading,  its  trees  and 
walks,  whilst  in  the  rear  we  observe  the 
different  portio.s  of  the  buildings  along 
State  street,  several  of  which  our  read- 
ers will  recollect  have  peculiarities  of 
construction  which  are  represented  with 
astonishing  accuracy.  The  look  up 
Broadway  is  highly  interesting,  because 
every  inhabitant  of  the  city  being  ac- 
quainted with  its  appearance,  is  pre- 
pared to  appreciate  the  view  which  the 
Model  presents  ;  but  the  full  pleasure 
will  be  received  by  those  who  inspect 
it  building  by  building,  and  so  become 
convinced  ot  its  surpassing  truth.  The 
minutest  peculiarity  of  every  building 
is  represented — even  the  monument  of 
Gen.  Montgomery  upon  St.Paul's  church 
cau  be  seen. 

Proceeding  along  the  East  River,  we 
come,  one  after  the  other,  to  the  ferry 
houses,  and  their  ditierer.i  boats  are  at 
once  recognized  and  distinguished  ;  but 
having  traced  every  store  and  ware- 
house wish  which  we  are  acquainted  as 
far  as  Wall-street,  let  the  visitor  exam- 
ine well  this  den  ol  money-changers,  so 
celebrated  wherever  commerce  is 
known.  The  chaste  Ionic  front  of  the 
Merchant's  Exchange,  which  we  have 
often  heard  professional  foreigners  say 
is  not  surpassed  in  good  taste  by  any 
other  building  designed  for  a  similar 
purpose,  is  here  in  all  its  beautiful  pro- 

7  21 


portions.  The  Custom  House  with  its 
massive  Doric  porticos,  and  the  host  of 
lesser  ornamental  fronts  known  to  all, 
8re  there  with  so  much  fidelity  to  the 
original  that  we  are  forced  to  under- 
stand how  so  much  money  and  time 
have  been  expended  upon  this  work, 
and  how  infinitely  more  correct  and 
beautiful  it  is  than  any  representation 
of  any  kind  ever  before  attempted. 

From  this  and  several  other  points 
around  the  Model,  the  connoisseur  in 
church  architecture  may  examine  and 
compare  the  claims  to  beauty  of  our 
r^val  spires — St.  Paul's  and  St.  John's 
in  the  Roman,  Trinity  and  Grace  in  the 
Gothic  styles.  The  slips  and  docks  are 
each  one  contending  for  our  praise. 
Any  one  of  those  packet  ships  or  steam- 
ers, correct  even  to  the  device  upon  her 
figure-head  or  painting  on  her  paddle- 
box,  would  make  an  ornament  for  a 
drawing-room  table  or  the  cabinet  of 
the  man  of  science — the  multitude  of 
them  renders  selection  impossible. 

We  will  visit  it  again,  we  know,  with 
increased  pleasure,  satisfied  of  the 
truth  of  remarks  made  by  men  of  sci- 
ence and  mechanical  skill  of  this  mini- 
ature city,  "  that  it  requires  knowledge 
to  appreciate  what  is  there  done — that 
a  day  is  requisite  even  to  form  an  opin- 
ion of  its  extern,  and  a  month  to  exam- 
ine its  every  detail — and  that  their 
surprise  is,  that  it  was  found  possible 
to  complete  it  in  a  much  longer  period 
than  a  year."  That  these  remarks  are 
justified  by  the  facts,  let  the  most  igno- 
rant notice  that  every  lamp- post  and 
awning  in  the  city  is  truly  represented, 
as  well  as  every  tree  of  its  own  kind 
and  hight,  and  on  its  own  exact  situa- 
tion ;  and  remember,  that  alter  all  these 
were  completed,  every  block  in  the 
city  was  examined  in  reference  to  these 
particulars. 

From  the  design  considered  archi- 
tecturally to  the  minutest  Gothic  orna- 
ment, everything  is  in  the  purest  taste. 
The  Canopy  is  supported  on  twelve  colu- 
mns, having  pendant  from  their  rich  anil 
gilded  capitals,  golden  acorns,  and  the 
shafts  enriched  with  oak  leaves  and 
acorns  The  architraves  are  enriched 
with  running  vines  in  gold  and  white, 
from  which  spring,  in  the  centre  and  at 
the  angles,  Gothic  arches  containing  the 
larger  views,  and  between  them,  on 
each  side  of  the  center,  four  smaller 
compartments  with  raking  cornices, 
having  underneath  pierced  and  moulded 
barge  boards  which,  with  the  lower  an- 
gles and  arches,  spring  from  varied  and 

22 


beautiful  gold  bosses.  Over  all  is  beau 
tiful  crocket  foliage  terminating  in 
finales,  also  of  gold.  In  the  four  angles 
arc  ingeniously  contrived  spaces  from 
which  are  issuing  carved  eagles  holding 
in  their  talons  the  national  flag.  The 
whole  canopy  presents  a  most  gorgeous 
appearance,  and  combines  with  the 
Model  to  produce  a  work  of  art  which 
bears  testimony  to  the  genius  of  Mr. 
Belden,  its  talented  projector  and  pro- 
prietor— a  work  which  will  astonish  the 
world. 

In  almost  no  other  country  would 
such  an  amount  of  capital  and  talent 
be  lavished  in  such  an  undertaking,  and 
we  cannot  regard  it  as  any  other  than 
a  national  one. 

Eve.  Post,  July  17,  1846. 

Model  of  New  York  — The  most 
interesting  exhibition  which  has  been  in 
our  city  lor  a  long  time  is  undoubtedly 
Mr.  Belden's  great  Model.  The  num- 
bers that  are  thronging  to  see  it  prove 
that  we  judged  correctly  of  its  success 
whilst  in  progress.  Nor  can  it  be  sur- 
prising that  great  interest  should  attach 
to  a  work  of  art  of  such  magnitude,  and 
upon  which  so  much  talent  has  been 
employed — our  own  city  being  the  sub- 
ject, and  from  which  so  many  strangers 
and  foreigners  will  form  their  opinions, 
not  only  of  the  city,  but  of  us,  it  being 
the  proprietor's  intention  to  exhibit  it 
over  the  whole  civilized  world. 

Our  friends  should  not  let  slip  the 
present  opportunity  of  seeing  this,  the 
only  perfect  model  of  an  entire  city 
ever  constructed,  and  which  is  the  re- 
sult of  that  American  enterprize  and 
talent  which  has  already  made  us  rivals 
in  the  useful  arts  and  sciences  of  the 
greatest  countries  in  the  world. 

N.  Y.  Herald,  July  s>0,  1816. 
Model  of  New  York. — We,  with 
pleasure,  award  our  meed  of  praise  to 
the  originator  and  executor  of  this  won- 
derful work.  He,  by  the  labor  of 
months,  has  condensed  the  work  of  cen- 
turies, as  exhibited  by  the  accurate  rep- 
resentation of  New  York  in  miniature. 
Mr.  Belden  has  achieved  a  triumph 
which  reflects  equ'il  credit  upon  his 
inventive  genius  and  the  perfect  skill  he 
has  displayed  in  correctly  portraying 
the  beauties  of  this  commercial  city. 
Every  public  edifice  or  decoration,  pri- 
vate building,  tree,  shed,  or  park — the 
steamboats  at  our  wharves,  our  nuble 
packet  ships,  pilot  boats  and  yachts — 
the  navy  yard  ai  Brooklyn  with  its  ap- 
purtenauces  of  houses,  shops,  docks, 


and  ships ;  each  and  all  can  be  viewed 
as  through  an  inverted  telescope.  One 
may  view  at  his  leisure  the  architecture 
of  our  different  churches,  the  winding 
of  our  streets,  the  thousand  and  one  ob- 
jects, which  to  see  in  reality  would  con- 
sume the  time  of  weeks,  but  in  the 
Model,  accurately  and  beautifully  fin- 
ished, he  has  at  once  a  view  of  the 
whole.  As  a  work  of  patience,  of  ge- 
niusand  of  perfectiou,  it  should  be  visit- 
ed by  every  dweller  and  stranger  in  the 
city.  The  citizens  of  our  great  metrop- 
olis owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Mr.  Bel- 
den  which  we  hope  will  be  cheerfully 
and  liberally  paid. 

Com.  Adv'r,  July  22, 1S46. 
The  Model  of  New  York,  now  on 
exhibition  at  the  Minerva  Rooms,  af- 
fords an  excellent  opportunity  to  our 
citizens  of  viewing  their  native  city, 
accurately  delineated,  with  its  noble 
packet  ships  and  steamboats,  the  neigh- 
boring city  of  Brooklyn  and  the  navy 
yard.  The  minutest  objects  are  repre- 
sented, and  on  viewing  it  through  line 
achromatic  glasses  which  are  furnished 
to  the  visitors  by  the  gentlemen  in  at- 
tendance, the  illusion  becomes  so  per- 
fect, th.it  the  far  famed  city  of  Gotham 
in  all  its  fair  proportions  seems  to  be 
transferred  to  the  platform  on  which 
the  spectator  is  gazing. 

By  no  other  means  is  it  possible  to 
embrace  at  a  single  coup  d'ttil  the  whole 
city  and  surrounding  waters,  or  to  form 
so  correct  an  idea  of  the  vast  extent  of 
the  metropolis,  the  natural  beauty  of  its 
situation,  and  the  immense  commercial 
advantages  it  enjoys.  We  can  easily 
conceive  what  an  effect  such  a  beautif  ul 
fac  simile  of  our  city  will  have  upon  the 
minds  of  foreigners. 

N\  Y.  San,  July  24,  1846. 
Belden's  Mimatcre  of  New  York. 
— Who  has  not  read  with  delight 
Washington  Ir.ing's  description  of  the 
island  of  Manhatten,  and  revelled  in  his 
delicious  picture  of  the  Battery,  on  a 
summer's  afternoon,  covered  with 
groups  of  snug  burghers,  their  comely 
wives  and  lovely  daughters  ?  This  sun- 
ny picture  of  our  city,  by  one  of  ils 
most  talented  sons,  may  be  realized 
and  enjoyed  by  paying  a  visit  to  the 
Model  of  New  York,  now  on  exhibition 
at  the  Minerva  Rooms,  406  Broadway. 

Here,  the  merchant,  after  the  toils  of 
the  day,  can  amuse  himself,  con  amore, 
with  the  great  commercial  mart  spread 
out  before  him,  the  noble  packet  ships 
entering  the  port  freighted  with  the 


wealth  of  distant  climes.  Here  too, 
the  stranger  can,  at  one  bird's  eye  view, 
satisfy  his  curiosity  with  regard  to  the 
•xtent  and  opulence  of  our  great  Me- 
tropolis. No  class  of  our  citizens,  from 
the  legislator  to  the  artizan,  can  fail  to 
be  benefitted  by  a  visit  to  this  stupen- 
dous work  of  art. 

The  talented  proprietor  has  certainly 
produced  a  work  which,  without  any 
compliment,  deserves  to  be  patronized 
by  all  who  feel  a  desire  to  see  their  na- 
tive city  set  forth  to  the  best  advantage 
in  the  eyes  of  foreign  nations.  We 
would  suggest  to  the  heads  of  families, 
that  a  belter  opportunity  could  not  pre- 
sent itself,  of  affording  to  the  rising 
generation  a  means  of  recreation,  not 
only  interesting,  but  highly  instructive. 
Cou'r  and  Enquirer,  July  25,  1S16. 
Model  of  New  York. — A  visit  to 
this  beautiful  and  ingenious  specimen 
of  workmanship,  which  is  now  exhibit- 
ing at  the  Minerva  Rooms,  will  surprise 
and  delight  every  one.  It  is  really  one 
of  the  most  novel  and  extraordinary 
specimens  of  patient  and  faithful  la- 
bor we  have  ever  seen,  and  some  idea 
may  be  formed  of  its  extent  when  we 
stale  that  it  embraces  this  entire  city 
from  the  Batteryto  the  32d  st.  with  a 
fidelity  perfectly  startling.  Every 
house,  every  shed,  every  tree  is  faith- 
fully piesemed,  s  that  a  resident  can 
without  a  moments  hesitation  point  at 
once  to  his  own  dwelling.  All  the 
churches,  hotels,  public  buildings,  ferry 
landings,  are  there  ;  in  fact  nothing  is 
omitted,  even  to  the  color  of  the  houses. 
Strangers  should  not  tail  of  seeing  this 
really  beautiful  piece  of  workmanship, 
as  it  will  give  them  a  fair  idea  of  New 
York  as  it  is.  It  is  a  great  pity  Mr. 
Belden,  the  enterprising  proprietor, 
could  not  procure  a  model  of  New  York 
as  it  was  forty  years  ago,  to  place  by 
the  side  of  this  one.  The  contrast 
would  speak  volumes  for  the  enterprize 
of  New  Yorkers. 

A  greater  portion  of  Brooklyn,  the 
Navy  Yard,  &c.is  also  represented  with 
the  same  scrupulous  accuracy,  and  al- 
together the  exhibition  is  one  which 
deserves,  as  we  are  glad  to  know  it 
receives,  most  liberal  encouragement. 
Eve.  Mirror,  July  29, 1*40. 
Beldes's  Model. — Some  idea  may 
be  formed  of  the  amount  of  labor  ex- 
pended by  Mr.  Beld.n  upon  his  great 
Model  of  New  York,  from  the  fact  that 
many  of  the  public  buildings  have  more 
than  500  pieces  each  in  them  ;  and,  al- 

9  23 


though  miniatures  of  small  size,  have 
perfectly  formed  not  only  the  doors,  win- 
dows and  chimnies,  hut  also  rhe  cornices, 
plynths,  columns,  capitals,  bases,  and  all 
the  other  architectural  details  which  are 
to  be  found  upon  the  originals. 

N.T*  Daily  Globe,  July  18,1846. 

Model  of  the  City  of  New-York. 
—From  the  accounts  of  our  friends  we 
h&d  anticipated  considerable  pleasure 
from  a  visit  to  this  miniature  of  the  city, 
but  we  were  by  no  means  prepared  lor 
the  treat  which  awaited  us.  We  expec- 
ted to  have  seen  a  general  representation 
of  it  but  we  found  a  degree  of  accuracy 
truly  astonishing — descending  to  most  or- 
dinary matters — even  the  lamp-posts  and 
the  awnings  are  truly  placed.  We  can 
recognize  at  the  first  glance  our  favorite 
steamboats  and  distinguish  the  packet 
ships  at  the  wharfs  and  on  the  rivers,  of 
which  our  merchants  are  so  justly  proud ; 
the  ditferent  ferry  boats,  with  their  houses 
and  bridges,  are  so  perfectly  correct  that 
those  best  acquainted  with  them  will 
most  appreciate  their  accuracy;  indeed, 
we  were  puzzled,  in  the  hour  we  had  to 
spend  at  the  Minerva  Rooms,  what  most 
to  admire,  the  elegant  design  and  rich  fi- 
nish of  the  canopy,  witii  the  admirably 
executed  views  in  the  compartments,  the 
noble  appearance  of  the  Model  when 
viewed  »s  a  whole,  or  the  accuracy  and 
nigh  finish  of  its  parts  when  examined  in 
detail,  &c. 

N.  Y.  Eve.  Post,  July  30, 1 846. 

The  Great  Model  of  New- York. 
— This  interesting,  artistic  and  mechani- 
cal work  is  attracting  crowds  of  visiters 
to  the  Minerva  Rooms,  406  Broadway, 
and  we  think  deservedly.  Its  immense 
extent,  24  by  20  feet,  and  the  great  nurn- 
Der  of  objects  represented,  amounting  in 
number  to  many  millions,  make  it  alto- 
gether the  greatest  piece  of  carving  ever 
attempted  ;  and  its  extent  is  second  to 
the  beauty  of  its  execution. 

N.  T>  Spectator,  Aug.  7,  1846. 

Visitors  continue  to  flock  to,  and  be  de- 
lighted with  the  great  Model  of  the  Em- 
pire City.  #  ♦  ♦  An  exhibition  where 


tastes  eo  varied,  yet  so  elevated,  can  oil 

be  fully  indulged,  is  not  often  met  with* 
And,  by  the  way.  tu Iking  of  admiring  the 
the  public  buildings,  we  regret  to  learn 
that  somebody  so  much  admired  ihe  City 
Hall  that  he  put  it  in  his  pocket,  probably 
to  shew  it  to  his  wife  and  daughters. — 
Surely  he  will  return  it;  had  the  city  fa- 
thers been  inside  it  would  have  been 
brought  back  after  the  first  day's  supper 
hour. 

N.  Y.  Herald,  Aug.  8,  1846. 

Model  of  New-York. — We  yester- 
day paid  another  visit  to  this  work,  and 
the  more  we  view  it  the  more  do  we  ad- 
mire the  design  which  conceived  and  the 
patience  which  executed  in  such  an  accu- 
rate manner,  the  Model  of  our  city.  Not 
one  of  the  thousands  of  our  citizens  who 
have  examined  the  Model,  but  has  been 
enabled  to  discover  his  own  domicile. 
By  the  bye,  who  stole  the  City  Hall  ? 

Situ,  Sell.  Monitor,  Sfpt.  1840. 

We  know  of  no  place  where  the  young 
or  the  old  could  spend  an  hour  more  pro- 
fitably than  at  this  exhibition. 

Golden  Rule  and  Odd  Fellows' 
Family  Companion,  Oct.  17,  1846 

The  Model  of  New- York,  at  the  Miner- 
va Rooms,  40G  Broadway,  is  certainly  an 
extraordinary  specimen  of  ingenuity  and 
patient  industry.  Every  house  in  the 
city  is  distinctly  shown,  so  as  instantly  to 
be  recognized  by  its  occupant.  Strangers 
will  get  more  knowledge  of  our  city  in 
fifteen  minutes,  from  the  miniature  re- 
presentation of  it,  than  they  could  other- 
wise obtain  in  as  any  weeks. 

Youth's  Cabinet,  Nov.  1846. 

The  faithfulness  with  which  every 
building  not  only,  but  every  brick  in  each 
building,  has  been  represented,  seems  al 
most  like  a  work  of  enchantment.  The 
work  is  far  more  perfect  and  life-like 
than  a  painting  could  be.  *  *  *  No 
wonder  the  mind  of  the  editor  of  the 
Knickerbocker  Magazine  wanderedwhile 
he  was  viewing  this  ingenious  work  of 
art.  to  Gulliver's  description  of  matters 
and  things  ia  LillipuU 


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